Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-28

friend Infadoos
III my lords are ready weSwlll journey on
TO Loo. where hut is made ready for my
lords tonight. The moon is now bright, so
that we shall not fall on the way
We assented, and in an hours time were
at the outskirts of the town, of which the
extent, mapped out as it was by thousands
of camp-fres appeared absolutely endless.
Indeed, Good, who was always fond Of a
bad joke, christened it Unlimited LOG"
Presently we came to moat with a draw
bridge, where we were met by the rafting
of arms and the hoarse challenge of sentry.
InfadOOs gave some password that / could
not catch, which was met with salute, and
we passed on through the central street of
the great grass city. After nearly half an
hours tramp, past endless lines of huts, In
fadoos at last halted at the gate of a little
group of huts which surrounded small
courtyard of powdered limestone, and in
formed US that these were to be our ''poOr'
quarters.
We entered, and found that hut had
been assigned TO each of us. These hutS
were superior to any which we had yet seen,
and IN each was a most comfortable bed
made of tanned skins spread upon mattress
es of aromatic grass. Food, too, was ready
for us, and as soon as we had washed our
selves with water, which stood ready in
earthenware jars, some young women of
handsome appearance brought us roasted
meat and mealie cobs daintily served on
wooden platters and presented to us with
deep obeIsances.
We ate and drank, and then the beds hav-
ing by our request been all moved into one
hut, a precaution at which the amiable
young ladies smiled, we flung ourselves
down to sleep, thoroughly wearied out with
our long journey.
When we woke, it was to find that the sun
was high in the heavens, and that the female
attendants who did not seem to be troubled
by any false shame, were already standing
inside the hut, having been ordered to at
tend and help us to make ready"
make ready, indeed" growied Good
when one has flannel shirt and a pair of
boots, that does not take long. / wish you
would ask them for my trousers"
l asked accordingly, but was informed
that these sacred relics had already been
taken to the king, who would see us in the
forenoon.
Having, somewhat to their aStOnishment
and disappointment, requested the young
ladies to step outside, we proceeded to make
the best toilet that the circumstances admit
ted of. Good even went the length OF again
shaving the right side of his face; the left
on which now appeared very fair crop of
whiskers, we impressed upon him lie must
on no account touch. AS for ourselves we
were contented with Il good wash and comb
ing our hair. Sir Henry's yellow locks were
now almost down to his shoulders, and he
looked more like an ancient Dane than ever,
while my griZzled scrub was fully an inch
long, instead of half an inch, which in a
general way [ considered my maximum
length
By the time that we had eaten our break
fast, and smoked a pipe message was
brought to Us by no less parsonage than In
fadoos himself that Twala, the king, was
ready to see us, if we would be pleased to
come.
We remarked in reply that we should pre-
fer to wait till the sun was little higher, we
were yet weary with our journey, ETC., etc.
1t is always well, when dealing with unclvi-
lized people, not to be in too great q hurry.
They are apt to mistake pOliteness for awe
or servility. So although we were quite as
anxious to see Twala as Twala could be to
see us, we sat down and waited for an hour,
presents as our slender stock of goods per-
mitted-namely, the Winchester rifle which
had been used by poor Ventvogel, and some
beads. The rife and ammunition we deter
mined to present to his royal hghness, and
the beads were for his wives and courtiers.
We had already given few to Infadoos and
Scragga, and found that they were delighted
with them, never having seen anything like
them before. At length we declared that we
were ready, and guided by Infadoos, started
off to the levee, Umbopa carrying the rifle
and beads.
After walking few hundred yards, we
came to an Enclosure, something like that
which surrounded the hutS that had been al
lotted to us, only fifty times as big. 1t could
not have been less than six or seven acres in
extent. All around the outside fence was a
row of huts, which were the habitations of
the Kings wives. Exactly opposite the
gateway on the further side of the open
space, was very large hut, which stood by
itself, il which his majesty resided. All the
rest was open ground, that is to say, it would
have been open had it not been filled by
company after company OF warriors, who
were mustered there to the number OF seven
or eight thousand These men stood still as
statues as we advanced through them, and it
would be impossible to give an idea of the
grandeur of the spectacle which they pre-
sented in their waving plumes, their glanc-
ing spears and iron-backed ox-hide shields.
The space in front of the large hut was
empty, but before it were placed several
stools. On three of these, at a sign from
Infadoos, we seated ourselves, Umbopa
standing behind us. AS for InfadoOs, he
took up position by the door of the hut.
SO we waited for ten minutes or more in the
midst of dead silence, but conscious that
we were the object of the concentrated gaze
of some eight thousand pairs of eyes. 1t
was somewhat trying ordeal, but we car
ried it off as best we could. At length the
door of the hut opened, and gigantic fig
ure, with a splendid tiger-skin karross flung
over its shoulders, stepped out, followed by
the boy Scragga, and what appeared to us to
be withered up monkey, wrapped in fur
cloak. The figure seated itself upon stool,
Scragga took his stand behind it, and the
withered-up monkey, crept on all-fours into
the shade of the hut and squatted down.
Still there was silence.
Then the gigantic figure slipped off the
IL IL,